Guatemala English language Magazine
I call vegetables the stars of my kitchen and aromatic herbs (and spices), superstars because they elevate a dish to a higher level, both in flavor, aroma and eye appeal. Imagine a caldo de res (beef soup) or a kaq ik (turkey soup from Coban) without aromatic herbs and vegetables. A typical caldo de res contains anywhere from 5-15 ingredients […]
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The healthier eating trend is stronger than ever in the United States. Native and African Americans and Hispanics are at the top of the risk group for Type 2 diabetes in America, according to the American Diabetes Association. This trend will have a ripple effect on neighboring countries in the coming years, as chronic diseases related to poor eating habits […]
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Now that the rainy season has officially arrived in Guatemala, a trip to the beach for an island party may sound like a nice escape. Why not check out neighboring Belize and plan your trip around a lively and delicious June tradition – the Lobster Fest. Three towns in Belize take part in Lobster Fest: San Pedro (Ambergris Caye), Caye […]
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While my heart and soul and culinary core are deeply Guatemalan, my desire and curiosity to learn about the synergies of all Latin cultures is only natural — after all, we share so many traits. From north to south and east to west, Latin America is rich not only in culture, but in unique cuisines. Recently, I traveled to a […]
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BOOK ALERT: “El Poyo, la Piedra y el Nixtamal: Cocina al estilo de Guatemala para neófitos.” New cookbook that explains Guatemala-style cuisine for neophytes. When author Carole Wilson was a child, she spent hours in her grandmother’s kitchen. While the house was ultramodern for the time, her grandmother insisted on having a poyo, an old-fashioned, masonry, wood and charcoal burning stove. […]
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Food aficionados and cooks know that visiting a mercado is like taking a kid to a candy store, and not until you have been to a Guatemalan mercado do you realize that there are more than fruits and vegetables there. During my time growing up in Guatemala, my mom and grandmother routinely went to the mercados to buy ingredients for […]
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Behold the power of cheese! There’s a reason for this: Cheese can seduce the most discriminating tastes, and Guatemalan cheeses rise to the challenge in any kitchen. There are many styles and methods of making cheese, however, Guatemalan artisan cheeses are the country’s favorites. When was the last time that you tried a queso fresco (fresh cheese)? In contrast to […]
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Many things have definitely changed in Guatemala, but in some rural areas, time seems to be at a standstill. That is the case of the molienda, the old-fashioned sugar mills powered by oxen. During a trip to Esquipulas and Quezaltepeque in eastern Guatemala not too long ago, I visited a molienda. While sugar processed commercially is one of the top […]
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Ponche, or punch in English, is the quintessential holiday drink in Guatemala and other Latin countries. I must say that some of the best ponches I have ever tasted have been at people’s homes during the Dec. 16-24 posada season (Las Posadas), which recreates Mary and Joseph’s pilgrimage in Bethlehem. When I think of ponche—it’s like rewinding and playing back […]
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My mouth was watering just thinking about all of the succulent fresh seafood I’d be savoring when I arrived in Placencia, Belize. Spiny lobster, hogfish, grouper, lionfish and queen conch to name but a few. For locals here, fishing is one of the oldest and most important means of earning a living and still plays a major role in the […]
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As the end of the year approaches, I can’t help but think about the special celebrations that bring families together. As nostalgia sets in, I reminisce about the precious times I spent with my family while living in Guatemala, and every time I return to visit, it’s like I never left. For me, the Day of the Dead and All […]
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Sweets are the perfect ending of a great meal, especially if they are near and dear to our hearts. Although I don’t claim to have a very sweet tooth, when I do eat dessert I naturally gravitate to fruit-based tarts or fresh fruit salads, but when a special craving sets in, I often reminisce about the desserts I ate while […]
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Visitors curious about traditional Mayan cuisine should add the Ixiim Cooking School to their to-do list. San Pedro La Laguna, situated on the shores of Lake Atitlán, is a popular destination featuring dramatic scenery, breathtaking hiking trails and waterfalls, numerous yoga centers, Spanish schools and lively nightlife. Visitors curious about traditional Mayan cuisine should add the Ixiim Cooking School to […]
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Chirmol is a healthy delicious chunky sauce that can accompany a variety of foods. When you are in Guatemala, you are bound to hear the word “chirmol” used in various contexts, be it culinary or cultural. A group of friends can be chirmoleando or gossiping about something or someone. Chirmol can also refer to a mess or a mix-up, and a […]
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Fresco in Guatemala is not the art of painting on wet plaster, but the art of making a wholesome fresh drink. Fresco in Spanish means fresh. Guatemalans accompany everyday meals with refreshing and wholesome fresh fruit drinks or roasted seed-based drinks. Soda is often an afterthought and something they serve for special occasions; sodas could never take the place of […]
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When deciding where to live in Central America any doubt was erased when I arrived in La Antigua Guatemala. Though I’m not saying that discovering a fabulous restaurant in town that features a lot of vegan dishes was a deciding factor, but certainly Samsara played a role. With the slogan “a place to feed your body and mind,” Samsara has […]
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Though they contain seeds, squash is a vegetable belonging to the cucurbitaceae family native to the North American and Mesoamerican regions. Within the five domesticated species there are many varieties from the United States to Central America. In Guatemala, there are diversities that are still not known elsewhere. Pear-shaped, dark-green-skinned güisquil and its albino cousin, perulero, are some of the […]
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Lenten season is also an opportunity to explore foods outside the normal realm of traditional choices. Cooking or eating out during season of Lent does not have to be difficult, it just takes a bit of awareness and creativity. Every year many Christians observe special diets during 40 days. As I listened to the priest’s sermon one recent morning at […]
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Featuring Italian Cuisine prepared by Chef Noé Sicán Known for his exquisitely prepared fresh pastas served daily, Mesón Panza Verde Chef Noé Sicán has been named the “Best Italian-Inspired Chef in Guatemala” by the Italian Club in Guatemala City. To celebrate Chef Noé’s culinary accomplishment, Mesón Panza Verde offers Italian Week, March 2-9, for both lunch and dinner seating. See […]
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I surely had a blast this past holiday season with family and friends visiting me for two weeks from Guatemala and Denmark. As we move into the New Year, and Valentine’s Day (día del Cariño) on the 14th, I want to share a dessert recipe that I made for them during their visit. I created classic chocolate-covered strawberries as an […]
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For chocolate lovers, Guatemala is a sweet place to be on Valentine’s Day. This is especially true if you visit La Antigua Guatemala, where chocoholics can indulge in so many delightful ways. Luscious chocolate bars, exquisite truffles and liquor-filled bonbons are but a few of the beautiful chocolate concoctions that are available at the many artisanal sweet shops scattered throughout […]
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Guatemalan and Latin cuisine offer many suggestions for making traditional dishes in healthy ways without compromising flavor and quality. My food philosophy is practical and healthy. I grew up eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, lean proteins, unprocessed foods and healthy oils, such as canola and olive oil. Some Guatemalan cooking uses lard, but my grandmother avoided it […]
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New Year’s resolutions come in many ways and forms. Mine usually include sticking to healthy cooking and eating habits for health and well being. Cooking healthy doesn’t have to be bland, difficult, or boring. Guatemalan cuisine, like other cuisines, has its own distinct cooking techniques. Today people are more aware about food than ever as the sharing of information has […]
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When you have a sweet tooth, Guatemala has plenty of options to offer, from decadent desserts to lighter, fruit-based treats. I must admit that I have a weakness for some sweets made either with fresh fruits or dark chocolate. While growing up in Guatemala, I got used to this because my mother and grandmother rarely made heavy desserts. When I […]
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From one small shop that opened in 1974, San Martín Bakery has just opened in La Antigua Guatemala—its 39th location. With a dream to be the best, the bakery had a modest presence at first, but, loving their work, its bakers always kept striving for perfection. This desire, still part of the […]
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“Modern Farmer” explains, “In a hydroponic system, a nutrient-dense water solution circulates through the plants’ roots and replaces the need for soil and traditional fertilizers. This technique allows farmers and gardeners to grow food in kitchens and basements, on windowsills and roofs.” The system, long ago embraced by indoor pot growers, may go mainstream as farmers in drought-stricken areas, particularly […]
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by chef and author Amalia Moreno-Damgaard. (AmaliaLLC.com). Located in the heart of Mesoamerica, Guatemala is the cradle of the Mayan civilization and as such it was an important agricultural and cultural hub. Many key species of crops emerged, including corn, tomatoes, chilis, squash, beans, potatoes and chocolate. Guatemalan indigenous cuisine incorporated the food of the ancient Mayas prepared according to rustic […]
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by Kerstin Sabene. The first time I tasted a pupusa was in La Antigua Guatemala and I thought it a most delectable and ingenious culinary invention. And while the pupusa has its rightful origins in El Salvador, it has, to the delight of many, quickly found its way to the tables of Guatemala and other countries throughout Latin and Central […]
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text and photos by Louise Wisechild. The savory tortilla, made from ground maize (corn), is Guatemala’s favorite food staple. Maize itself plays an important cultural and spiritual role in Mayan cosmology. In the Maya creation story, people were fashioned from yellow and white maize. Maize is the foundation of the Mayan diet and culture. Maize is also one of the […]
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Discover the Succulent Loroco. text & photos by chef and author Amalia Moreno-Damgaard. (AmaliaLLC.com) There are many luscious edible flowers in Guatemala, but loroco is at the top of the list. This delicate, flavorful and aromatic flower bud is native to Guatemala and neighboring El Salvador. It is used in tamales, stews, empanadas (baked or fried pockets made with a variety of doughs […]
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